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Quick answer: If you liked Starship Troopers, read Joe Haldeman's The Forever War, then Ender's Game, Old Man's War, Armor and Hammer's Slammers. All are military science fiction about soldiers, duty and war among the stars.
Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 novel follows Juan Rico, who joins the Mobile Infantry and fights alien Bugs, in a story that is part action, part debate about citizenship and military service. It is influential and controversial. The books below offer similar war stories, answers to Heinlein and fast military space adventures.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Forever War | Joe Haldeman | Adult | the anti-war answer |
| Ender's Game | Orson Scott Card | Adult | young strategist |
| Old Man's War | John Scalzi | Adult | witty military science fiction |
| Armor | John Steakley | Adult | brutal soldier story |
| Hammer's Slammers | David Drake | Adult | mercenary tanks |
| Dauntless | Jack Campbell | Adult | fleet tactics |
| Dune | Frank Herbert | Adult | political epic |
| The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress | Robert A. Heinlein | Adult | lunar revolution |
| Citizen of the Galaxy | Robert A. Heinlein | Teen | boy in space |
| Have Space Suit – Will Travel | Robert A. Heinlein | Teen | young adventure |
| Leviathan Wakes | James S. A. Corey | Adult | space mystery |
| Red Rising | Pierce Brown | Adult | brutal dystopia |
| Skyward | Brandon Sanderson | Teen | pilot and war |
| Redshirts | John Scalzi | Adult | science fiction comedy |
| Rendezvous with Rama | Arthur C. Clarke | Adult | mystery spacecraft |
1. The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
A soldier returns from relativistic battles to a changed Earth. Powerful and bleak.
Best for: the anti-war answer.
2. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Ender Wiggin is trained to fight an alien enemy. Classic and tense.
Best for: young strategist.
3. Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Seventy-five-year-olds join the colonial army. Quick and funny.
Best for: witty military science fiction.
4. Armor by John Steakley
Soldiers in powered armour fight giant insects. Gritty and fast.
Best for: brutal soldier story.
5. Hammer's Slammers by David Drake
A mercenary tank regiment fights across the galaxy. Hard-edged.
Best for: mercenary tanks.
6. Dauntless by Jack Campbell
A hero is revived to lead a lost fleet home. Strong on strategy.
Best for: fleet tactics.
7. Dune by Frank Herbert
A noble family takes control of a desert planet. Dense and influential.
Best for: political epic.
8. The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
The Moon's colonists rebel against Earth. Witty and political.
Best for: lunar revolution.
9. Citizen of the Galaxy by Robert A. Heinlein
A slave boy grows up among spacefarers. Warm and adventurous.
Best for: boy in space.
10. Have Space Suit – Will Travel by Robert A. Heinlein
A teenager wins a space suit and ends up in space. Fun and quick.
Best for: young adventure.
11. Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey
A detective and a ship's officer find a conspiracy across the solar system. The start of The Expanse.
Best for: space mystery.
12. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
A miner on Mars infiltrates the elite. Fast and violent.
Best for: brutal dystopia.
13. Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
A girl dreams of being a pilot to defend her planet. Fast and funny.
Best for: pilot and war.
14. Redshirts by John Scalzi
Crew members realise they are minor characters in a TV show. Clever and fun.
Best for: science fiction comedy.
15. Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
Humans explore an alien starship passing through. Calm and awe-inspiring.
Best for: mystery spacecraft.
How to Choose
For the best answer to Heinlein read The Forever War. For more military science fiction choose Ender's Game, Old Man's War or Armor. For fleet tactics pick Dauntless. For more Heinlein try The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress or the juveniles. For a modern epic read Dune or Leviathan Wakes. Starship Troopers is debated, so reading it alongside The Forever War makes for a good discussion. Verhoeven's 1997 film satirises the book's politics, so readers who know only the movie may be surprised by the novel's sincere tone. Heinlein's juveniles are a good way into his work.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Starship Troopers about?
A young recruit joins the Mobile Infantry and fights an alien enemy.
Who wrote it?
Robert A. Heinlein.
When was it published?
1959.
Is it controversial?
Yes, for its views on service and citizenship.
Is the film faithful?
No, the film is satire and differs greatly.
Did it win an award?
It won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1960.
Is it a good book for beginners to military science fiction?
Yes, it is short and fast.
What should I read next?
Try The Forever War or Ender's Game.
Which book here is best for brutal soldier story?
Try Armor by John Steakley, which suits readers looking for brutal soldier story.
Which book here is best for political epic?
Try Dune by Frank Herbert, which suits readers looking for political epic.
Which book here is best for young adventure?
Try Have Space Suit – Will Travel by Robert A. Heinlein, which suits readers looking for young adventure.
Which book here is best for pilot and war?
Try Skyward by Brandon Sanderson, which suits readers looking for pilot and war.
Which book here is best for young strategist?
Try Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, which suits readers looking for young strategist.
Which book here is best for mercenary tanks?
Try Hammer's Slammers by David Drake, which suits readers looking for mercenary tanks.